Shillong, Jan 19: The Meghalaya senior men’s football team will depart for Silapathar in Assam on Monday as they prepare to kick off their Group B campaign in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26.

Meghalaya will play their opening match on January 22 against Odisha in the Upper Assam town. Ahead of the campaign, the team was accorded a formal send-off on Friday at the MFA Ground, Polo, where Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) President Hamletson Dohling, along with senior association members, wished the squad success.

Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh will continue as head coach and lead the team into the national tournament. The squad has seen several changes since Meghalaya qualified from the preliminary stage last month, with some players unavailable due to club commitments and other reasons. However, the extended preparation time under Syiemlieh’s guidance is expected to benefit the team.

Group Composition

Hosts Assam, defending champions West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Rajasthan have been placed in Group A.

Group B comprises Meghalaya, Odisha, Kerala, Services, Punjab, and Railways.

Kerala, last season’s runners-up, are multiple-time Santosh Trophy winners, most recently lifting the title in 2021–22. Services, champions in 2023–24, had eliminated Meghalaya in last year’s quarterfinals. Punjab last won the title in 2007–08 but have finished runners-up three times since, while Railways, champions 60 years ago, were runners-up as recently as 2013–14.

Neither Meghalaya nor Odisha have won the championship. Meghalaya’s best-ever finish came in 2022–23, when they narrowly lost 3–2 to Karnataka in the final under Syiemlieh’s coaching.

Road Ahead

With four teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals, Meghalaya’s immediate objective will be to make it out of the group stage before setting their sights higher.

Meghalaya Squad

Rajat Paul Lyngdoh, Banshanskhem Kharsyntiew, Nister Roy Suting, Wanboklang Lyngkhoi, Apborlang Kurbah, Wilbert D Marbaniang, Iohborlang L Lyngkhoi, Mebanaibok Kharbudnah, Richie Kharbani, Mebankhraw K Wahlang, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid, Riborlang L Lyngkhoi, Babysunday Marngar, Dibormi Kassar, Mebanshngain Kurkalang, Fairming Suting, Robertson M Khongriah, Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Kynsaibor Lhuid, Marbiangki Suchiang, Deibormame Tongper, Dawanchwa C Challam.

Support Staff:
Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh (Head Coach), Sailon Syngkrem (Assistant Coach), Dious Lapasam (Manager), Wanbokstar Syiemiong (Physio).